US ‘backstop’ vital to deter future Russian attacks on Ukraine, says Starmer

British prime minister says force would need protections such as air cover that only US can provide

Keir Starmer has urged Donald Trump to provide a US backstop" to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, saying it is the only way to deter Russia from attacking the country again.

The UK prime minister's appeal to Trump came after an emergency summit in Paris that heard widespread calls by European leaders for a large boost in defence spending.